Frank Monroe Stephens brief biography and photographs
Franklin Monroe Stephens Biography
Frank Monroe Stephens (nickname Steve) was born on July 27, 1886, in Prescott, Arizona, to Josiah Quincy Stephens and Catherine Sawyer. He was the youngest child. They lived on a cattle ranch. Later he moved to Los Angeles with his parents.
Frank attended the University of California at Berkeley where he studied electrical engineering. His career with the Bell Telephone System began in San Francisco on May 5, 1909, when he jointed The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company as a student engineer. Later he was promoted to district engineer. In 1912, he was appointed plant engineer of the The Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis, Missouri. In April 1914, Frank wrote his dad telling them if they ever needed assistance he would help any way possible. He wrote, “I haven’t forgotten Dad, how mama saved what little you two had and gave me nearly the last cent to send me through college.” Frank sent his mother a check each month.
On April 21, 1906, Frank was in San Francisco and wrote his family three days after the disastrous 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the city. Over 3000 people died, and over 80 percent of the city was destroyed. Frank wrote in a letter to his parents, “This is the worst thing anyone ever witnessed. People have been shot all over town for looting. There are four or five soldiers in every block. All the cadets from UC have been (acting as) guards… I don’t know whether college will continue or not. I think I will come home as soon as I get off duty… Nearly all the town has gone. It is the worst disaster this town has ever seen. Poor people all over town are huddled together. The sewer has broken into pipelines. People have to drink that stuff. There is going to be an awful epidemic….I am in no danger.”
Frank married Helen Carolyn Settles of Hannibal, Missouri, on January 16, 1915. They had six children: Helen, Catherine (Sis), Robert (Bob), Mary, Elizabeth (Dibbie), and Susan. Helen lost one and perhaps two children born prematurely. As newlyweds, Frank and Helen lived in St. Louis.
Two years later in 1917, he became division plant superintendent, and in December 1919 he was promoted to general plant superintendent.
In 1923, Frank moved his young family to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was general superintendent of plant of The Ohio Bell Telephone Company. They lived at 3239 Hyde Park in Cleveland Heights. Frank wrote in a letter to his mother on Hotel Cleveland stationery, “I hated greatly to leave St. Louis… Our house just suited us…and we were very happy. But when one works for the Bell Telephone Company, you must be prepared to accept any advancement offered at any location.” Frank described a gathering of 237 people that gathered in St. Louis for a farewell dinner for him, where they presented him with a beautiful watch and chain.
On June 12, 1925, Frank wrote his mother and Sis that he was in the town in or near where his dad was born in Fremont, Ohio. He said he wished he knew exactly where his father had lived but could imagine him swimming and fishing in the Sandusky River. Frank, as always, apologized for not writing much and explained that he had been inspecting properties via car for two months and had traveled over 12,000 miles. He described his fascination with the old canal system and described the pansies, roses, and hardy flowers they had planted at home.
In July 1927, he wrote his mother and sister (at 1116 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA.) about how Helen was taking life-saving, and Bob and Mary were learning to swim at the high school pool in Cleveland Heights. He said on hot days the family went to swim at the lake and have picnics. He wrote how Mary M was a little too ambitious in the water and daring so they had to keep a careful eye on her. He mentioned how much they love their dog, Zorrie. He talked about playing golf with his wife Helen. He described Bob’s impressive first communion but assured his family he was not any more of a Catholic than he had ever been. He described the new telephone building and his office on the 17th floor with all new furnishing. Frank sent his mother and sister money regularly.
At first, they stayed in a hotel until they moved into a rental house on Kensington Road. Then they bought a house on Hyde Park, where the children roller-skated down the hill. Frank always sent his wife roses on their children’s birthdays. He often took her out to dinner once a week, so they could have some private time away from the children. He hired live-in help to assist Helen with the house and children. Their daughter Helen remembered her parents as being loving and very thoughtful of each other. She felt her father was the dominant figure.
The following year in 1928, they relocated to Columbus, Ohio, to a house on Iukea Avenue close to a university. In 1928, he served as General Manager of the Southwestern Area. Frank was elected vice president and general manager in 1929. The younger girls went to Catholic School.
Frank was an ardent fly fisher and used to fish with his buddies at a club. He also enjoyed hunting pheasant and quail and taught son Bob to hunt. Helen remembered her father as been somewhat critical and opinionated but supportive while remembering her mother as being very loving and supportive. Bob was a little scared of and in awe of his father. One time young Helen and her friends prank called a teacher, but since her dad worked for the telephone company, they got caught. He was not amused. They ate dinner as a family and always had room for friends of their children to join them. During these years Catherine (Sis) had serious mental breakdowns, which were traumatizing for her, her parents and siblings. They all loved her so much.
After nine years, the family returned to Cleveland, and bought a house on Chesterton Road in Shaker Heights. In 1937, Frank became operating vice president of Ohio Bell. He was charged with the complicated task of adapting telephone facilities to the “unprecedented demands” of World War II. Frank enjoyed working on his Victory Garden. He and Helen were close friends to the Ides and enjoyed playing bridge.
Frank chaired both the Columbus and the Greater Cleveland Red Cross Chapters, including the disastrous 1936 floor where many families lost their homes. In April 1943, Frank was appointed as a regular industry member of the National Telephone Commission of the National War Labor Board and spent considerable time in Washington DC. The children visited him and saw all the monuments. He belonged to the Union club, the Mayfield Country Club, and was president of the N.C. Kingsury Chapter Non 2, Telephone Pioneers of America.
His final position was president of the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. He bought a large home in Milwaukee. In November 1945, he “launched a five-year 60 million program of improvements and expansion. In the first full year following the war, he directed construction and improvements of telephone plant costing $15,000,000. His greatest concern was the furnishing of service promptly to persons who had to wait their turn because of facilities shortages brought about by the war.” He increased service to 58,100 customers. He directed the company to hire more employees by one third, reaching a high of 10,800 employees.
He died at his home October 20, 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after suffering from lung cancer. Shortly before his death, he was baptized into the Catholic Church. He stopped working on August 31, 1945. Services were held at he Feerick Funeral Home, 2026 East Capital Devie, Milwaukee.
“He was a man of strong character, one whose views of telephone service requirements were constructive, sound and farseeing, whose knowledge of the business was of the sort that comes only through diligence, wisdom and experience, and whose ability was of that rare kind that was capable of analyzing problems, programming for their solution, and carrying out the plans to a successful conclusion. At times he was impatient, but always so as a consequence of his concern for a successful result. At all times and under all circumstances he was sincere, forthright, honest and fair. He was respected and admired by all who came in contact with in the business – operator, plant workman, Union leader, supervisor, chief operator, foreman, manager, and executive.” (from November, 1946 The Ohio Bell.
Frank Monroe Stephens (nickname Steve) was born on July 27, 1886, in Prescott, Arizona, to Josiah Quincy Stephens and Catherine Sawyer. He was the youngest child. They lived on a cattle ranch. Later he moved to Los Angeles with his parents.
Frank attended the University of California at Berkeley where he studied electrical engineering. His career with the Bell Telephone System began in San Francisco on May 5, 1909, when he jointed The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company as a student engineer. Later he was promoted to district engineer. In 1912, he was appointed plant engineer of the The Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis, Missouri. In April 1914, Frank wrote his dad telling them if they ever needed assistance he would help any way possible. He wrote, “I haven’t forgotten Dad, how mama saved what little you two had and gave me nearly the last cent to send me through college.” Frank sent his mother a check each month.
On April 21, 1906, Frank was in San Francisco and wrote his family three days after the disastrous 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the city. Over 3000 people died, and over 80 percent of the city was destroyed. Frank wrote in a letter to his parents, “This is the worst thing anyone ever witnessed. People have been shot all over town for looting. There are four or five soldiers in every block. All the cadets from UC have been (acting as) guards… I don’t know whether college will continue or not. I think I will come home as soon as I get off duty… Nearly all the town has gone. It is the worst disaster this town has ever seen. Poor people all over town are huddled together. The sewer has broken into pipelines. People have to drink that stuff. There is going to be an awful epidemic….I am in no danger.”
Frank married Helen Carolyn Settles of Hannibal, Missouri, on January 16, 1915. They had six children: Helen, Catherine (Sis), Robert (Bob), Mary, Elizabeth (Dibbie), and Susan. Helen lost one and perhaps two children born prematurely. As newlyweds, Frank and Helen lived in St. Louis.
Two years later in 1917, he became division plant superintendent, and in December 1919 he was promoted to general plant superintendent.
In 1923, Frank moved his young family to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was general superintendent of plant of The Ohio Bell Telephone Company. They lived at 3239 Hyde Park in Cleveland Heights. Frank wrote in a letter to his mother on Hotel Cleveland stationery, “I hated greatly to leave St. Louis… Our house just suited us…and we were very happy. But when one works for the Bell Telephone Company, you must be prepared to accept any advancement offered at any location.” Frank described a gathering of 237 people that gathered in St. Louis for a farewell dinner for him, where they presented him with a beautiful watch and chain.
On June 12, 1925, Frank wrote his mother and Sis that he was in the town in or near where his dad was born in Fremont, Ohio. He said he wished he knew exactly where his father had lived but could imagine him swimming and fishing in the Sandusky River. Frank, as always, apologized for not writing much and explained that he had been inspecting properties via car for two months and had traveled over 12,000 miles. He described his fascination with the old canal system and described the pansies, roses, and hardy flowers they had planted at home.
In July 1927, he wrote his mother and sister (at 1116 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA.) about how Helen was taking life-saving, and Bob and Mary were learning to swim at the high school pool in Cleveland Heights. He said on hot days the family went to swim at the lake and have picnics. He wrote how Mary M was a little too ambitious in the water and daring so they had to keep a careful eye on her. He mentioned how much they love their dog, Zorrie. He talked about playing golf with his wife Helen. He described Bob’s impressive first communion but assured his family he was not any more of a Catholic than he had ever been. He described the new telephone building and his office on the 17th floor with all new furnishing. Frank sent his mother and sister money regularly.
At first, they stayed in a hotel until they moved into a rental house on Kensington Road. Then they bought a house on Hyde Park, where the children roller-skated down the hill. Frank always sent his wife roses on their children’s birthdays. He often took her out to dinner once a week, so they could have some private time away from the children. He hired live-in help to assist Helen with the house and children. Their daughter Helen remembered her parents as being loving and very thoughtful of each other. She felt her father was the dominant figure.
The following year in 1928, they relocated to Columbus, Ohio, to a house on Iukea Avenue close to a university. In 1928, he served as General Manager of the Southwestern Area. Frank was elected vice president and general manager in 1929. The younger girls went to Catholic School.
Frank was an ardent fly fisher and used to fish with his buddies at a club. He also enjoyed hunting pheasant and quail and taught son Bob to hunt. Helen remembered her father as been somewhat critical and opinionated but supportive while remembering her mother as being very loving and supportive. Bob was a little scared of and in awe of his father. One time young Helen and her friends prank called a teacher, but since her dad worked for the telephone company, they got caught. He was not amused. They ate dinner as a family and always had room for friends of their children to join them. During these years Catherine (Sis) had serious mental breakdowns, which were traumatizing for her, her parents and siblings. They all loved her so much.
After nine years, the family returned to Cleveland, and bought a house on Chesterton Road in Shaker Heights. In 1937, Frank became operating vice president of Ohio Bell. He was charged with the complicated task of adapting telephone facilities to the “unprecedented demands” of World War II. Frank enjoyed working on his Victory Garden. He and Helen were close friends to the Ides and enjoyed playing bridge.
Frank chaired both the Columbus and the Greater Cleveland Red Cross Chapters, including the disastrous 1936 floor where many families lost their homes. In April 1943, Frank was appointed as a regular industry member of the National Telephone Commission of the National War Labor Board and spent considerable time in Washington DC. The children visited him and saw all the monuments. He belonged to the Union club, the Mayfield Country Club, and was president of the N.C. Kingsury Chapter Non 2, Telephone Pioneers of America.
His final position was president of the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. He bought a large home in Milwaukee. In November 1945, he “launched a five-year 60 million program of improvements and expansion. In the first full year following the war, he directed construction and improvements of telephone plant costing $15,000,000. His greatest concern was the furnishing of service promptly to persons who had to wait their turn because of facilities shortages brought about by the war.” He increased service to 58,100 customers. He directed the company to hire more employees by one third, reaching a high of 10,800 employees.
He died at his home October 20, 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after suffering from lung cancer. Shortly before his death, he was baptized into the Catholic Church. He stopped working on August 31, 1945. Services were held at he Feerick Funeral Home, 2026 East Capital Devie, Milwaukee.
“He was a man of strong character, one whose views of telephone service requirements were constructive, sound and farseeing, whose knowledge of the business was of the sort that comes only through diligence, wisdom and experience, and whose ability was of that rare kind that was capable of analyzing problems, programming for their solution, and carrying out the plans to a successful conclusion. At times he was impatient, but always so as a consequence of his concern for a successful result. At all times and under all circumstances he was sincere, forthright, honest and fair. He was respected and admired by all who came in contact with in the business – operator, plant workman, Union leader, supervisor, chief operator, foreman, manager, and executive.” (from November, 1946 The Ohio Bell.